The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander Read Free Book Online Page A

to standing. He sniffed and wiped his eyes. “I’m going to go wash up outside. Then I need to head into town to look in on my patients again. I’ll check your prisoner while I’m there. Ben Slater, was it?”
    Wyatt nodded.
    “I told Miss Ashford I’d be gone for a while.” Foster paused by the front door. “Would you remind her to rub some of the salve I left on the bedside table onto her hand this morning? The sutures will be sore at first, but that will help.”
    “Will do, sir. And thank you for going by the jail.”
    “Any chance of you still being here when I get back?”
    Wyatt detected a hint. “I’d
planned on heading back into town myself, sir. But . . . how does my staying around for a while work for you?”
    “Works well, and I’m much obliged to you, Marshal Caradon. I’d prefer she not be alone right now. Not with being so new to town, and not knowing anybody.” He paused, looking behind him. “Emma should be waking up soon enough. Miss Ashford made it clear to me she wants to be the one to tell Emma about . . . what’s happened.” He gestured out the door. “Did the boy ever come back?”
    “He did. He bedded down in the barn. I checked on him about an hour ago. He was sound asleep.”
    “Guess he was tired from the long trip.”
    Wyatt suspected the soundness of the boy’s slumber stemmed from something more than exhaustion, but he kept the thought to himself.
    Dr. Foster glanced back at the closed bedroom door. “I’m afraid Miss Ashford’s welcome to Copper Creek hasn’t been a very good one.” With a last look that didn’t call for words, he closed the door behind him.
    Wyatt finished his coffee and dumped the grounds from the pot outside, then washed the pot and cups and put them back in the cupboard. He figured Miss Ashford’s brother to be around sixteen or seventeen, and he didn’t have to wonder long at the tone of their relationship. From his brief encounter with Robert Ashford, he’d best describe the young man as surly . Not uncommon for a fellow his age, but not a good trait to wear so openly in a town like Copper Creek. A chip on a man’s shoulder was an awfully tempting thing to take a shot at. Especially a chip as large as Robert’s.
    Wyatt glanced at the closed bedroom door, tempted to check on Miss Ashford. But the better part of him knew to leave her be, give her space. For now anyway. After all, too much space could be as bad as not enough.
    A creaking hinge drew his attention, and he turned to see a little girl peeking at him through a slightly opened door.
    He went as far as the sofa and paused, not wanting to frighten her. He half-expected her to shut the door fast against him. But she didn’t. She only watched, eyes wide and speculative. And he couldn’t help but think of the heartache that awaited the precious girl in days ahead.
    He took a tentative step toward the door and knelt to be closer to her height. “Are you Emma?”
    She nodded, squinting. “Does Mama know you’re here?”
    He smiled, hearing her true question. “Yes, she does. I’m Wyatt.” It wasn’t exactly proper to give only his first name, but Marshal Caradon seemed too much for the moment, and for one so tiny. “Your mama and I are friends. Is that your room?” He indicated past her.
    She opened the door wider. “Yes. But I haven’t made my bed yet.” A petite frown knit her pretty brow. “I do that after breakfast. Is my mama awake yet?”
    Remembering what Dr. Foster had said, Wyatt shook his head and quickly changed the subject. “Are you hungry?”
    She nodded again and briefly pursed her lips. “I like pancakes best.”
    “I like them too. But I’m not sure we have what we need to make pancakes. You want to help me check?” He held out his hand.
    She toddled out in her nightgown, looking decidedly younger than her vocabulary had led him to believe.
    “How old are you, Emma?”
    She held up five fingers. “Mama keeps the maple syrup in the cupboard. But I